Adopting a sustainable lifestyle

There has been much talk about living green and going green, whether it is for the home, at work or in the community. But how does one start, really?

First is to make a mindset change. If you are reading this article instead of another in the same section, it clearly is a sign that you want to change something but do not know where to start. Examination of conscience is too heavy a term reserved for confessions.

What we can simply do is ask ourselves what we want to change in our lives. Is it our eating habits? Do we want to lose weight, exercise, look good or feel better? If we are ready to embrace some changes, that is the start.

Second is to read up or listen to people who have made the change. From meatless Mondays to going off four-legged completely, why can some people do it while we think it is unthinkable? Changing your eating habits is the easiest part. No one will even notice you stopped eating something like meat or foie gras, unless you call attention to yourself. It is a consciousness reserved just for you and your spirit.

Third is to change your shopping habits. Be a more socially-conscious shopper. Ask where things come from. Who makes them? Are they made in sweatshops so you can buy them cheap? Sometimes we want to get the cheapest price for something, without thinking why sellers can sell them so cheap. Are they made by laborers who were paid well or fairly? How about fresh produce? Are they cheap because they come from imported sources going through the “back door” channels? Or are they made by local farmers trying to eke out a living?

Next, look at your household practices. Do we use a lot of water, electricity unnecessarily? Do we leave our phone chargers plugged into the wall for our convenience while phantom loads rack up our electric bill? Or have we started using energy wisely and sharing these tips with our entire household?

At the office, do we waste paper because it is part of the “cost of doing business”? Do we turn up the airconditioning because we do not have to pay for it? Do we reuse paper, encourage use of coffee mugs that are reusable instead of wasting paper cups or bring our lunchbox instead of yet ordering another meal in styro containers?

If you have gone this far in reading this column, you are a good candidate for change. Rather than preach to our colleagues, let us make the changes slowly but surely in our homes, offices and in our communities.
But before all that, let us make the change in ourselves.

Starting simply and slowly

1. Be more conscious of what you eat. Avoid processed foods and choose fresh fruits and vegetables whenever you have a choice. Try to go meatless on Mondays. That will save a lot of carbon emissions if demand for meat products decrease.

2. Take Vitamin C everyday. It may just save you a heart attack. Read about Dr. Rath’s Cellular regimen on the internet.

3. Bring a cold water bottle to work and stop buying bottled mineral water in small sizes. Bring your cup to your coffee house or dine in so you don’t waste another paper cup.

4. Bring a reusable shopping bag in your purse, in your briefcase, in your car. Refuse plastic bags whenever you can.

5. Patronize stores who think about the environment. You have a choice and you have the power. If you start the change, stores will be more environmentally-conscious too.

6. Eat at restaurants where they can tell you where their food comes from. If they buy locally, they are helping local farmers and they are socially-conscious too.

7. Take up yoga or meditation classes. It will be a change from the active aerobic exercises you have been doing at the gym. It is time to give your spirit the exercise it badly needs.

8. Make new friends in volunteer groups . The spirit of the volunteers will uplift you like no upper can.
These groups can be the Gawad Kalinga group in your parish, the Rotary or even your own neighborhood association’s charity projects.

Lastly, do not tell other people what you are trying to do, or trying to change. There will always be detractors and naysayers who will discourage you or call you “corny” or aging, if not old.

You will be the happiest person once you start making that change. –CHIT JUAN, Manila Times

Chit Juan is a co-founder and owner of ECHOstore sustainable lifestyle. She often speaks to the youth about Entrepreneurship, Leadership and the Environment. You can e-mail her at puj@echostore.ph